Rack-assembling machine



0. SLIGER.r RACK ASSEMBLING MACHINE.

APPucATmN FILED Junin, 1920. 1,354,424, r Patented Sept. 28, 1920.

zSHEETS-SHEET l.

I'f j. v

Invenor:

Oscar SZz'yei/j eem@ 0. SLIGER. RACK ASSEMBLING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED IuNEII, |920.

Patented Sept. 28, 1920.

7 SHEETS-sain 2.

0. SLIGER.

RACK ASSEMBLING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE II, 1920.

,Uff QW 0.. .MJ Iy mmm W0 m ,L11 um @mgl 0. SLIGER.

RACK ASSEMBLING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 1I, 1920! Patented Sept. 28, 1920.

SHEETSwSHEET 4 o SLIGER 4 n RACK ASSEMBLING MACHINE.

APPLICATIN flLED IUNEJ l. 1920. 1,354,424. PatentedSept. 28, 1920.

4 v YSHEE'I'S-SHEET 5.

scar Slg/Cif @y QA 0. SLIGER.

RACK ASSEMBLING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILEDJUNE||,1920.

Patented Sept. 28, 1920.

SHEE'I'S-SHEET 6.

NAB

www

o. SLIGER. RACK ASSEMBLING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE Il, 1920.

1,354,424, PatentedSept. 28, 192).

7 SHEETS-SHEET 7.

unirsi) STATES PATENT YOFFICE.

OSCAR SLIGER, OF LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY, ASSIGNDR TO IIIENGEL BOX COMPANY, OF LOUISVILLE, KENTCKY, A. CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

RACK-ASSEMELING MACHINE.

Application filedJune 11, 1920.

To @ZZ w hom Matty cof/067% lie it known that l, @sortit Sintonia, a citizen oi 'the United States, residing at Louisville,

in the county oli' Jefferson and State o Kentu'` lry, have invented certain new and useful lmpi'ovenients in Rack-Assembling Machines, ol' which the following is a specification. y

This invention pertains to an improved raclr` assembling machine, and has for its main object the production of a machine wherein the various component elements of the rack will be automatically assembled and then orced into locking relation with each other.

rl"he invention contemplates the use of a series oi 'forms into each of which the rack elements are introduced in proper sequence and in proper relative position, means for thereafter forcing the elements together, and means for automatically ejecting the assembled racks from the forms. tion also contemplates the use of a series ot J'orms with means for automatically passing the saine'beneath hoppers which contain the rac-.rl blanls, and in so constructing the lornis and hopper elements that the blanks will be automatically withdrawn yand itioned within the iiorms.

embodiment of the invention in the annexed drawings is wh rein,

ich, i it 1 i. ,f f Li t'. l iguic is a op plan \iew o tie en iie lachine;

2 an end elevation ot the machine in the direction of the arrow 2 1n 3 a top plan view of the several conside elevation ot that portion of 5 4 separate etailed views ot the conveyors employed;

i"igs. 11 and 12, detailed views of the niechan" 9 and 10 are, respectively,

an enlarged view substantially on 5R13 orFig. 1 showing the hopiront elevation;

Specification of Letters Patent.

The invenshowing the arrangement of theL Patented Sept. 28, 1920.

seriaiNo. 388,358.

designed to assemble a rack of the forml shown in Fig. 20, in which l are the cross partitions, 2 the lower series of slats and 3 the slats of the upper series. As will be apparent from the following description the rack may have a great-er or less number of partitions and slats and the dimensions thereof may be varied, it being necessary only to change the forms as to size and arrangement to bring about such result. rlhe various operative parts are carried by and upon a table l which is suitably supported by' a plurality of legs 5. The partitions and slats are stacked in separate hoppers and are automatically withdrawn therefrom positioned in the terms. Such forms, o which a plurality are employed, are alike in structure, and consequently a description one will suiiice.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 17 and 18, the form may be said to comprise two side elements 6 and 7, two ends 8 and 9, and a. bottom 10, the latter being provided with openings 11 through which kicker or ejeeting` members, later to be described, may pass. lilounted within such box-like form are a series of vertically disposed walls or elements 1Q. 13, 14 and 15, and upon the innermost i.

two slots or notches 19 and 20, the slots be- A ing alined in two series, and notches 21 and 22 are similarly formed in the sides 6 and 7 and the walls lll and 15, the purpose of which will presently appear. n

The table is surmounted by three hoppers 5 or reservoirs for the rack elements, the

forms being passed successively beneath said hoppers and act to withdraw the exact number rvofblanks therefrom. The mechanism for moving the forms beneath the hopper,

-to and beneath the hammer which forces the blanks. into locking relation, and to the kicker or ejectingmechanism, will be yhereinafter set forth.

The hoppers are alike in form and a de.-

scription of one will therefore suffice. The

hopperssee Fig. l, are designated. generally kby A, Band C, the first supplying the lower series ofslats 2, the second, or B, supplying` the cross partitions 1, and the third,

C, supplying the second series of slats 3.

Secured to and extending upwardly from thefbed, see Figs. 2, 13, 14, 15 and 16, are two supporting posts or columns 23 and 2l, to which are secured two vertically spaced cross bars 25 and 26. Said bars are slottedV as 27,- Fig. 16, and to each bar is ads justably secured a pair of horizontally disposed arms 28, said arms forming the supports fora pair of vertically disposed upper walls 2 9 and 30. Each wall is provided on its inner face adj acent its forward edge with a'fixed guide strip. 3l, while adjacent the rear edge is an ,adjustableV `guide 32, said guides engaging' the blanks at their ends.

Extending' forwardly Yfrom each of the cross bars 25 and 26, and adjustably secured thereto are four brackets 33said brackets being arranged in pairs and each pair being' connected by a cross bar 34. The upstanding end of each bracket isv slotted and machine screws 35 .pass freely therethrough and into vertically disposed plates 36, of which there are two, said plates at their lower ends being' each provided with a supporting finger or ledge 37 upon which the stacked blanks normally rest. Spring' retracted gates 38 stand in' front of the lower portion of the blanks at each end thereof so that the lowermost blank alone may Je withdrawn at a time.

Pivotally supported on the ends of a crossbar or sl aft 39 carried by bearings l() attached to the lower Vcross bar 34:, see Fig. 14k, are two lifting levers ell, said levers AEach of the ends 8' andy beingV slightly curved. The forms as they are'moved Aover the table are guided in tracks or ways 42 so that they are brought inte proper relation to the hoppers," the notchesV 19 and v2O or VV21 rand22, as theV case p may be, aliningwith the fingers 37, so that the form may pass without interference therewith. rlhe lifting levers el, however, contact the wall (or side) of the'form and yare swung upwardly. thereby coming into or way 18. lSuch operation continues untilV each channel has blank deposited therein. fis the kwall 13V approaches the hopper it will Contact they lifting levers and rock them upwardly l into contact with the lower-most blank, thereby lifting the blanks and permittingthe form to pass from beneath the hopper to thenext loading or operating station.A

It will, of course, be understood, that the form is moved first in one direction or line and then, as it passes beneath the next hopper,l at right angles to the line of its fermer line of movement, in which oase the side 6 becomes the forward advancing element which coperates with the lifting levers followed, after the blanks have been introduced, by the wall 15 which again elevates the lifting levers.

rlhe forms are passed successively beneath the hoppers A, B and C, and the slats 2 and eand the crossjpartitions 1, occupy the relative positions illustrated in Fig. 15) with the'grooves 413 in the slats in line with tl e notches 4d in the edges of the cross partitions. f The forms are then niovedbeneath a drop hammer which is automatically operated and descends with sucient moinentuin, owing to itsA weight, to drire the rack elements together. Such mechanismis best shown in F igjs. 1,l 2 and 1l. Extending upwardly 'to a point considerably above the bed or table are two columns l5 and 416 connected at their upper ends byy a cross bar l? having` anr opening' therein forming' a guide for the l'ipperportion of a rod` or stem 48. To the lower end of the stem there is secured a cross head or frame 49 which engages slides 50 secured upon the columns l5 and 4:6. Said cross head has secured to its lower face a weighted hammer 51 the lower face whereofis smooth andl of such Yciinensions that it may readilyrpass into the form and drive the slats and partitions into interlocking relation. The hammer is his automatically raised and released and is allowed to fall under the action of gravity. Stem 4S carries a roller 52 and cam 53 cooperates therewith. Said cam is loosely mounted on a shaft 54, the shaft having` secured thereto a toothed clutch element adapted to coperate with a locking dog or lever 5G tulcrumed at 57 to the cam. A spring 58 connected to the cam, and to the outer end of the lever, tends to draw the le- 'ver into locking relation with the clutch element 55 and when such engagement is effec"- ed the cam rotates with the shaft, The shaft carries a sprocket wheel and is constantly driven in a manner later set forth. The cam also carries a stop59 which lies above the lever 56, and a trip lever GO, t'ulcrumed upon a cross bar'l, has its upper end so arranged that it will pass beneath the clutch lever 56 and hold the same out of engagement with the clutch element 55, a spring 62 serving to throw the upper end et lever inwardly. Said lever passes through a slotted guide 63 and its lower .end stands in line with the end wall 8 of the form which has just passed from beneath the hammer and engages the notch 2O therein. Such form is shown at the extreme left in Fig. ll and, as it is moved forward, by means presently set forth, it swings lever 60 allowing the dog 56 to engage clutch element 55 thereby looking the cam to the shaft 54 and withdrawing' the same from beneath the roller 52. The weighted hammer 51 then drops within the form and drives Vthe crate elements together. The cam continues to rotate and by reason oi its shape will contact roller 52 and again elevate the stem 48, cross head 49 and hammer 5l. rlhe lower' end of trip lever 60 will, before the Ilhammer is fully elevated, be treed from the notch'in the form byereason of the outward movement ot the form, and spring 62 will it to such position that it will stand path ot movement of the clutch lever and contact the same. Such Contact will said lever 56 out of engagement with t clutch element 55 and the cam will come to rest with the hammer held in an elevated position thereby4 The form ai vancing mechanism will then move the torna 'from beneath the hammer and carry it to the position to the extreme left, Fig. ll, where it comes to rest ltor a period of time. `When insuch position it overlies the kicker or rack egecting mechanism. Said mechanism, Figs. l and ll., may be said to comprise our vertically disposed pins 64 secured at heir lower ends to a frame or cross hea-d 5 mounted for vertical reciprocation in a `guideway G6. The pins at their upper ends are guided in openings formed in plates GT l are so spaced that, when elevated by a G78 contacting a roller G9 carried by the 'frame `65, they pass up through the Yto hold. the separate compone openings ll in the bottom 10 of the form and strike against the assembled rack. As

Y the pins move upwardly the assembled rack is raised out of or into the upper `portion of the `form and an attendant lifts suoli rack to one side.

Ordinarily nine' forms are employed in connection with the machine and are moved automatically over the bed and beneath the various hoppers, beneath the hammer, and over the kicker pins, by suitable advancing means as endless chains having engaging cleats or lugs thereon'. A single source ot' power is preferably employed, for instance, an electric mot r (Fig. to drive the advancino` chains, said motor through suitable connections also act ating the hammer elevating cam and the kicker erating cam 68. Said motor through belt'l drives a shaft 72 which in addition to the pulley 73 about which the belt passes, carries a smaller pulley 7 4. A belt 7 passes about :s id pulley 74 and about aY lar(r er pulley 76 secured to one end of a shaft "7. Said shaltat its inner end carries a A)rocket wheel about which passes a sprocket chain 78, the chain -in turn passing about a; sprocket wheel secured to a shaft 79 upon which the kicker cam 68 is secured. Shaft 77 also has secured to it a second sprocket 80, Fig. 4, which drives a sprocket chain 8l. said chain passing over an idler sprocket 852, about large sprocket 83 and about a sprocket 84 secured upon shaft 54 which carries the clutch mentber that actuates the hammer lifting cani, Sprocket 83 is secured to shatt 85 and a gear 86 is also secured to said shaft; said gear vmeshing,T with a gear 87 .secured to a shaft S8. Said shaft S8 throuoh various other intergeared shafts and sprocket drives, all of which are perliectlj.,v clear ence to Figs. and 15 to l0 inclu motion to the yaii'imis teod chai i traverse the forms over the table rd a dotailed description' thereof is deemed essential. rllhe various chain runs which are provided'with lugs or cleats 89 to engage the lterms, may, however. be de. 'l viatcd generally by a, .7), c, (l, ey and f. the zoims being automatically transferred by one to the other, and traversed over the table along the rails 42. As will be noted, (.7. stands at right angles to c and c so that in ctlcctthe forms are given quarter turn i'n orf Ar that the Cross partitions l will be dropped in the form at right angles to the prorioislv iw serted lowermost serios ot lets. The parte are so timed that propo.. patience operan tions obtains. L

What is claimed is:

l. In a rack mbling machine, the combination -oi' a plurality o'l hoppers adapted A nt rack elo-- ments; Vforn having means tnereiiz to re- Y ceive the elements and to properly space and ing the rac-li elements into locking relation.

' 2; In a rack' assembling machine, the com'- bination of avplurality of hoppers adapted .to hold the separate component rack ele-y ments; a forni having means therein to're- Vceive the elements and to properly space and position the same; means tor successively* moving lthe form beneath the hoppers; an automatically operated hanmiei' for forcing the rack elements into locking relation; andv means Ator ejecting the as the form'. Y

3. In a rack assembling machine, the combination of a table; a plurality of hoppers arranged above the saine adapted to -liold sembled rack from ythe separateV component rac-k elenjients; a` form provided with means vfor withdrawing the rack elements one by one and holding them in spaced relation; a hammer; means for moving said iorm over the table, beneath the hoppers and to the hammer; and means for'operating the hammer.

4. In a rack assembling machine, the combination of a table; a plurality oi 'hoppei's arranged above the same adapted to hold the separate compoi'ient rack elements; a form lprovided with means for withdrawing the rack elements one by one and holding them A in spaced relation; a hammer; means for Vmoving said form over the table, Vbeneath form provided with means for withdrawing the yrack elements one by one and holdingthem in spaced relation; a hammer; means the h'oppers and to the hammer; means "for `ejecting the assembled rack from the form;

and means for operating the hammer and said eJecting means.

5.- ln a raclr assembling machine, the coinbination of a table; a plurality of hoppers arranged above the table adapted to hold the separate component rack elements; a

for moving said forni over the table beneath the'hoppers and to a point below the hain- Amer; means for ejecting the assembled rack l from the form; means for operating said ejecting means; and means controlled by the 'form for bringing the hammer into operation. Y e

6. In a rack assembling machine, the combination of a plurality of 'hoppers adapted to hold the separate component rack ele- 4' ments; a forni having a plurality of spaced p cleats therein forni ing guideways for there-- ception of the rack elements, said cleats being( adapted, as the form is'passed beneath the hopper, to remove the lowermost rack element contained within the hopper and thereby position within the form the jequisitenumber of vrack ele-ments and means 'for traversing said form. j

7 vIn a rack assembling machine, the combination of a table; a plurality or hoppersr reception of the rack elements; means associated with each hopper adapted tocontact form as it is moved beneathl the same to litt the rack elements in the hopper as the advancing and' rear walls of the form pass in line Awith the hopper whereby the rack elements are heldv out of contact with suchV walls, said means being out oin line with kthe cleats so that the rack elements may drop down and be inline with the cleats in order that the cleats may contactth'e elementsand remove the same piece bypiece; and means for traversing the forms beneath therhoppers Y 1 Y 8. ln a rack assembling machine, the combination ot a table; a Vpluralityl of hoppers arranged Vabove the same and adapted'to hold the separate component rackelements; a pair of levers pivoted below each hopper, a torni adapted to receivethe rack elements and hold them in spaced relation therein; and means for traversing the form beneath the hoppers, the advancing' and rear walls ofthe form contacting the levers and throwing` the same upwardly into contact with the rack elements in the hopper and thereby lifting the same so that the wall may pass tree of the elements, said levers dropping down as the front wall passes from beneath tl: e same whereby the elements are brought into operative Velation with-the means con tained i fithin the Vform for holding the elements in proper position.

9. Vln a rack assembling machine, the coinbination of a table; al plurality "of hoppers `arranged above the same adapted to hold the separate component rack elements, a

Vterm provided with means for withdrawing hold the separate com nonent rack elements' l. Y 9 a torm provided with means for withdrawi ing the rackelements one by one and holding them in spaced relation, said form havv ing openings provided'in the bottom thereof; a hammer; a frame; a plurality of vertically disposed pins carried by the frame;

soVV

ii'io means for operating the hammer to force the rack elements placed within the form into interlocking relation; and means for operating` the frame carrying the pins and moving them upwardly through the openings in the form into Contact with the assembled rack for removing such rack from the form.

ll. ln a rackv assembling machine, the combination of a table; a series of hoppers arranged above the same adapted to hold the eparate component rack elements; a plurality vof forms, each of said forms being provided with means for withdrawing the rack elements one by one and holding them in spaced relation; means for moving the forms along the table and beneath the hoppers, said means moving the form in one direction beneath the first hopper, thence at right angles thereto beneath the second hopper., thence beneath the third hopper in a direction the same as that which obtained under the first hopper; and a hammer adapt-r rack elements one by one and holding them in spaced relation; means for moving the forms along the table and beneath the hoppers7 said means moving` the form in one direction beneath the first hopper, thence at right angles thereto beneath the second hopper, thence beneath the third hopper in a direction the same as that which obtained under the first hopper; a hammer adapted to force the rack elements into interlocking relation; and means for ejecting the assembled rack.

13. In a rack assembling machine, the combination of a table; three hoppers arranged above the same adapted to hold the component rack elements, the intermediate hopper being arranged at right angles to the first and third hoppers which stand in parallelism; va plurality of forms each being provided with means for withdrawing the rack elements one by one and holding them in spaced relation therein; means for traversing the forms successively beneath the hoppers, the form passing beneath the first and third hoppers in the same direction and at right angles to said direction beneath the intermediate hopper; and a hammer adapted to force the rack elements into locking engagement.

14. In a rack assembling machine, the l combination of a table; three hoppers arranged above the same adapted to hold the component rack elements, the intermediate hopper being arranged at right angles to the first and third hoppers which stand in parallelism; a plurality of forms each being provided. with means for withdrawing the rack elements one by one and holding them in spaced relation therein; means for traversing the forms successively beneath the hoppers, the form passing beneath the first and third hoppers in the same direction and at right angles to said direction beneath the intermediate hopper; a hammer adapted to force the rack elements into locking engagement; and means for ejecting the assembled racks from the forms after they pass the hammer.

l5. In a rack assembling machine, the combination of a table, a plurality of hoppers arranged above the same adapted to hold the separate component rack elements` each hopper embodying a pair of spaced lingers at the lower portion thereof adapted to contact the lowermost raclr element in the. hopper and to hold the same; a form substantially rectangular in outline and provided with a pair ofnotches in each of the upper edges thereof, said notches being spaced apart a distance equal to the space between the fingers aforesaid; means contained within the form for withdrawing the rack elements from the hoppers as they pass beneath the same and hold such elements in spaced relation `within the form: a hammer adapted to force the assembled rack elements into locking relation: means for' moving the forms beneath the hoppers and the hammer; a cam for elevating said hammer; a constantly rotating clutch member associated with said cam; a locking lever carried by the cam and adapted when released to engage the clutch member; a lever serving normally to hold the locking lever out of operative relation with the clutch member, said lever extending` downwardly into the path of movement of the forms and standing in alinement with one of the notches aforesaid, whereby when the form is moved the lever will be actuated by contacting with the wall of the notch and be withdrawn from holding position with reference to the locking lever thereby bringing the clutch into operative relation with the cam causing the same to move and elevate the hammer.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

OSCAR `SLIGrER. 

